San Diego Zoo Guide: Parking, Hours & Getting There

The San Diego Zoo is one of the best-known zoos in the world, and it sits right in the middle of the city. It covers about 100 acres inside Balboa Park, a short drive from the airport and downtown hotels. This guide covers what to know before you go: hours, ticket prices, the parking fee that started in 2026, how long to spend, tips for families with young kids, and the easiest way to get there.

Quick answer: The San Diego Zoo is at 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101, inside Balboa Park. It is open every day of the year. In late October 2026 the hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., but they change through the year, so check the official hours page before you go. A 1-Day Pass is $78 for adults and $68 for children 3 to 11, and it includes the Guided Bus Tour and the Skyfari Aerial Tram. Parking in the Zoo lot is no longer free: it costs $16 per car per day. The Zoo is about 3 to 4 miles from San Diego International Airport. A private SUV drops you at the main entrance, so you skip the lot and the fee.

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San Diego Zoo at a glance

Here are the basics in one place. Details were checked on the official site in October 2026.

Topic	What to know
Address	2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101 (Balboa Park)
Open	Every day of the year, rain or shine, including holidays
Hours	Vary by date; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in late October 2026
1-Day Pass	$78 adults (12+), $68 children (3 to 11); under 3 free
Included	Zoo entry, Guided Bus Tour and Skyfari Aerial Tram (subject to availability)
Zoo parking	$16 per car per day since January 5, 2026; free for registered members
Time needed	The Zoo suggests at least 4 to 6 hours
From the airport	About 3 to 4 miles; often 10 to 15 minutes by car outside rush hour

San Diego Zoo hours

The Zoo opens every day of the year. Opening is usually 9 a.m. Closing time changes with the season and special events.

Late October 2026: the official calendar shows 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Monday to Thursday.
October weekends: on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October, the Zoo stays open until 9 p.m. for its HalGLOWeen evenings, with activities from 5 p.m.
Other months: hours vary. Pick your date on the “Zoo Hours” calendar on the Plan Your Visit page of sandiegozoo.org.

The Skyfari Aerial Tram runs daily from 10 a.m. to closing. The free San Diego Zoo app shows the day’s schedule and a map.

When you know the closing time, plan your pickup for about 20 to 30 minutes after it. It takes a while to walk back from the far side of the grounds.

San Diego Zoo tickets and prices

Buy tickets online before you go. You can then skip the ticket windows and walk straight to the gate. No reservation is needed for a regular visit.

Ticket	Adult (12+)	Child (3 to 11)
1-Day Pass, Any Day	$78	$68
1-Day Pass, Value Days (online only, select dates)	$73	$63
2-Visit Pass (Zoo and/or Safari Park)	$130	$120

A few points to know:

Under 3: children 2 and under are always free.
Kids Free October: from October 1 to 31, children 11 and under get in free with an adult who has a valid ticket or membership. One adult can bring up to six free children.
What is included: every 1-Day Pass covers the Guided Bus Tour and the Skyfari Aerial Tram, subject to availability.
Same-day re-entry: get your hand stamped at the exit and show your ticket and stamp when you come back in.

San Diego Zoo parking in 2026

For many years the Zoo’s big front lot was free. That changed on January 5, 2026. Here is how the Zoo lot works now:

Price: $16 per car or motorcycle per day. Oversized vehicles such as RVs pay $44.
City residents: $8 per car, with advance registration through the parking operator’s resident portal.
Members: free for one registered vehicle per adult membership, in the Zoo lot only.
How to pay: at kiosks in the lot or at the main entrance by card, by text or QR code (small processing fee), or in cash at a Zoo ticket booth. The Zoo advises paying after you arrive, not online beforehand.
Everyone pays: this includes cars with disabled placards. Unpaid cars can be cited or towed.
Space: first come, first served. Busy days can fill it, so arriving early helps.
No overnight parking, and no marked RV or bus stalls in the Zoo lot.

When the lot is full, the Zoo points visitors to other paid lots in Balboa Park. On select days a free shuttle runs from the Inspiration Point lot, about a mile south, from 11 a.m. until one hour after closing. Those lots follow the City’s rules, not the Zoo’s. For the rest of the park, see our Balboa Park guide.

Will Zoo parking be free again in 2027? News reports say the City plans to make its own Balboa Park lots free from January 1, 2027. The Zoo lot runs under the Zoo’s lease, and the Zoo has said it will keep reviewing its parking program. Check the Zoo’s parking page before a 2027 visit.

The simple way around all of this: with a private ride you are dropped at the entrance and picked up there. No lot, no kiosk and no fee.

Getting to the San Diego Zoo

The Zoo sits in the north part of Balboa Park, just north of downtown. Cars reach the Zoo lot from Park Boulevard at Zoo Place.

From San Diego International Airport

The Zoo is only about 3 to 4 miles from the airport. Outside rush hour the drive is often 10 to 15 minutes. Flying in on the morning of your visit? The Zoo stores luggage and car seats for the day for a small fee. With our airport car service, your chauffeur tracks your flight and meets you at the curb outside arrivals. For $30 more, Meet & Greet puts the chauffeur inside at baggage claim with a name sign.

From downtown hotels

From the Gaslamp Quarter and the waterfront hotels, the Zoo is usually a short drive up Park Boulevard. Many guests stay at hotels like the Manchester Grand Hyatt and book a simple ride there and back.

By bus

MTS Rapid 215 and Route 7 stop at the Zoo. Both connect with downtown and the trolley. Buses are cheap but slower with strollers and bags.

Comparing your options

Option	Good for	Things to know
Private SUV	Families, groups up to 6, airport arrivals	Drop-off at the entrance; child seats on request; fixed price per vehicle
Driving and parking	Visitors with their own car	$16 Zoo lot fee; lot can fill on busy days
Taxi	Short trips from downtown	Meter fare; you may wait for a cab at closing time
MTS bus	Budget travel with light bags	Rapid 215 and Route 7; slower with strollers

How long to spend at the San Diego Zoo

The Zoo itself suggests at least 4 to 6 hours. That covers the main areas, the bus, the Skyfari and lunch.

Start with the Guided Bus Tour. It is a narrated 35-minute loop on double-decker buses that boards near the entrance. It gives you a good overview before you explore on foot.
Use the Skyfari to save your legs. The aerial tram crosses the Zoo from one side to the other. It is a shortcut and a view at the same time.
Expect hills. The Zoo is built on canyons, and some paths are steep. Comfortable shoes help.
Arrive early. Mornings are cooler and less crowded.

The Safari Park is a separate park in Escondido, about 35 miles away. The Zoo does not recommend doing both on the same day.

Visiting with kids

The Zoo works well for families. A few tips:

Strollers: bring your own or rent one near the entrance ($16 single, $20 double). Strollers are not allowed on the bus tour, but there is stroller parking at the queue. Folded strollers up to 23 inches wide can go on the Skyfari.
Skyfari age rule: children under 8 must ride with an adult.
Play areas: look for the Tree of Dreams in Wildlife Explorers Basecamp, the Polar Play Area in Northern Frontier and the Elephant Play Yard in Elephant Odyssey.
Food: you may bring small single-person food containers. Large coolers, glass and alcohol are not allowed.
Baby care: diaper stations are in most restrooms, and the First Aid office near the Reptile House has a private nursing area.
Child seats in the car: we fit them before pickup for $20 each, up to two per vehicle. Tell us your children’s ages when you book.

Accessibility at the Zoo

The Zoo offers accessible parking, restrooms and access to tour buses for guests with disabilities. The Guided Bus Tour has a ramp and limited wheelchair spaces. A free ADA shuttle runs inside the Zoo on call for guests with mobility disabilities. You can rent a manual wheelchair ($16) or an ECV ($60) near the entrance, first come, first served. A personal attendant who helps a guest with a disability gets in free. Because of the steep grades, being dropped right at the entrance saves a long walk from the far end of the lot.

A Zoo and Balboa Park day with an hourly booking

Most visitors only need a ride there and a ride back. An hourly booking fits days with several stops. For example: an airport pickup, a morning at the Zoo with bags in the car, a walk through the museums and gardens of Balboa Park, then dinner downtown and the ride to your hotel. Hourly bookings have a 3-hour minimum, and the chauffeur stays nearby so you can move between stops when you are ready. Learn more about our chauffeur service in San Diego.

Frequently asked questions

Is parking free at the San Diego Zoo?

Not anymore. Since January 5, 2026, the Zoo lot costs $16 per car per day. Members park free after registering their vehicle. A drop-off at the entrance avoids the fee.

What are the San Diego Zoo hours?

The Zoo opens every day, usually at 9 a.m. Closing time varies by date. In late October 2026 weekdays run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and October weekends run until 9 p.m. Check the official calendar for your date.

What is the San Diego Zoo address?

2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, CA 92101, in Balboa Park. Cars enter the Zoo lot from Park Boulevard at Zoo Place.

How much are San Diego Zoo tickets?

A 1-Day Pass is $78 for adults and $68 for children 3 to 11. Children under 3 are free. In October, children 11 and under get in free with a ticketed adult.

How long should I spend at the San Diego Zoo?

Plan on at least 4 to 6 hours. A full day lets you see more without rushing.

How far is the San Diego Zoo from the airport?

About 3 to 4 miles. The drive is often 10 to 15 minutes outside rush hour.

Can you drop us at the Zoo entrance?

Yes. We drop you at the entrance and agree on a pickup time and place for the ride back. With an hourly booking, the chauffeur stays nearby.

How many people fit in one SUV?

Up to 6 passengers and 5 large bags. The price is fixed per vehicle, not per person, and covers the chauffeur, fuel and tolls. Gratuity is not included.

Book your ride to the San Diego Zoo

Enter your pickup address, the San Diego Zoo as the drop-off, and your date on the booking page. You see the fixed price for each SUV before you pay, and you can cancel free up to 24 hours before pickup.